Apparatus for pumping oil from petroleum-wells.



K. E. EHRMANN.

APPARATUS FOR PUMPING OIL FROM PETROLEUM WELLS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.22,1907.

91 9, 1 42. Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

, 2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

00a l'm we: nvenloz la Z I, Ekzvnazzzl m gs K. E. 'LHRMANN. APPARATUS FOR PUMPING OIL FROM PETROLEUM WELLS. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1907. 91 9 142, Patented Apr. 20, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' liquid is raised by com ressed air.

. fpiapacity of the spring.- If-ne more liquid is-- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

K'ARELEDUARDEHR'MANN; or B'AJoEirG L'EN'TJ-IR', SUMATRA.

Patented Aprif 20, 19091 AppHcafion-medNovember 22, 1807'. Serial No. 408,412.

To all whom it concern:

Be-it known thatl, KAREL EDUARD EHR- MANN, a subject'of the Queenof the N ether lands, residing at Baj oengeLentjir, Sumatra,- Dutch- East Indies, have 'inventedcertain new and useful Improvements y Relating to Apparatus for Pumping Oil from :Petroleum- Wells, of which the following is 'a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for pumping. liquid from petroleum-wells and the like, in which the petroleum or other wells,- the compresse .ineans of a compressed air pipe and the supply of air is regulated in accordance with the invention is designed to'preventthis,- since it is possible thereby tocontrol 'the-level of the h uid. Acontrolling deviceis lowered intot e well simultaneously-with a Mam-- moth or other suitable airliftpum between the compressed-air and oil-de ivery pipes. The position of the controlling device, and thus the distance at which'itis arran ed from the pum is determined prac- 40 freely up and down;

bymeans of insulated wires with an electric -9 plated, the bell sounds, and the numbertica ly for each well. he controlling device comprises a small sheet metal box, in the open bottom of which a small float can move The float is connected by means of a thin rod with a switch-lever whichyin the highest position=of the float, brings two contacts into engagement with each other. The two contacts are connected bell and indicator board whichare arrangedin-the engine-room or the-like. As soonas the liquid in the well has risen up to the level of the float,- the electric-circuit.is comcorresponding to this well is exposed on the indicator-board; The .engineattendant' is thus notified that com ressed air 'ls-to be su lied to that'partic ar wellt In these air is supplied by e improved apparatus moreover com-'- prisesa; shiit-ofi device which is inserted -in to y the; compressed air pipe and enables the engine-attendant, by electrical means to sentially of a box, in which-there is -a=shutwhen locked or released b an electromagnet, closes or opens the va' ve in accordance with the current supplied thereto. As=soon an electric circuit, whereby the air shut-oil valve is opened and so remains until the moreover in communication by means of in with a-separat-switch-board; whei'eby it is room and to make arrangements with the OfilClfll-Qt the well by telephone.

shown one example of construction of the controlling orindicating device and of the shut-oil device for the air.

section-through a well ling device fitted thereto. section and Fig. 3 a top view,- bothdrawn device. Fig. 4 is a diagram of the connecttionsof the apparatus, showing one electric circuit. 'shut-ofidevice with the-front cover removed.

a: y, Fig. -5, seen from the=leftz two arrangements for a complete plant.

The plant consists as is known of a bore= hole 1, which is lined with a tube extending to 'the'petroleum. stratum, and. contains an oil-delivery or discharge pipe 2 and anompressedair pi e 3. These twopipes are f0ot-pie'ce-4 of a-Mammoth pump. The

lower end. The li uid level shown by means .of theline'I, ILin *ig. l-ma be that down to which the liquid is lowere during working. In the-upper part of the well is provided achamber-7.

shut off or permit the supply of compressed" air atiwill. This arrangement consists: es-

offvalve actuated by-' clockwork, which as it is necessary to supply air to a well, the attendant switches the el'ectromagnet into electromagnetis again actuated, whenthevalve 1s again closed. This arrangement is sulated wires'with the float in thew'ell and possible for the engineattendant to have 'all' thewells under observation from the engine- In the accompanying'drawings, there is- -In these drawings Figure 1- isha verticali'laving t e'contro 5 Fig. 2 is a vertical' Fig. 5 is-a front elevation of the air' Fig. 6 is a vertical section thereof on the line 4 Fig. 7 is a diagram oftheelectrical connections of the connected at t eir lower end by the known The controlling device proper is arra ed 1 at a-predetermined position-fi, Fig. 1, e tWeenithe two pipes 2 an'd--3 and consistsessentially of a casing 8 (Fig. '2) which has"- to an enlarged scale, showing the=controlling lining tube 5 of thewell is perforated'at its a trapezoidal cross-section with two side walls curved in such a manner that the casing f 8 can be conveniently gripped between the two pipes 2 and 3. A partition 9 divides the easing into two similar compartments 10 and 11. The upper chamber 10 is closed by a cover 12. On this cover is fastened a block of insulating material 13 which fits exactly into the u per chamber 10 and on which the contact device is arranged. This device consists of a metal terminal 14 which has a contact spring 15. A contact lever 16 is pivotally mounted on the pin 17 which is mounted on the angle-bracket 18. Through the insulating block 13 extend insulated wires 19 and 20; the wire 19 is connected to the terminal 14, while the wire 20 is connected to the angle-bracket 18. In the lower chamber 11 is arranged a float 21 which is suspended on a thin rod 22 in such a manner that it can move freely. The rod 22 can move freely through the partition 9 and is pivotally connected at its upper endto the contact lever 16. The arrangement of the connections is shownin Fig. 4; the controlling device 8 is connected by means of the conductor 19 to an indicator-board 23, which is connected to an electric bell 24 and a battery 25. The conductor 20 is connected to an earth-plate in a known manner and the battery is earthed in a similar mamier. The two conductors are preferablysecured to insulators and extend upward along the oil-delivery pipe 2 (Fig. 1 to the chamber 7 whence the circuit can be continued by neans of bare wires.

The air shut-off device is built into the air-pipe in any suitable manner. The said device consists essentially of a box 26, which is fastened by means of two metallic side walls to the ends of the compressed-air-pipe 3 (Fig. 5). In the box is arranged the shutoff valve 27 which is intercalated into'the compressed-airpipe in any suitable manner (Fig. 6). The s indle of the valve 27 is extended outward y and is connected on one side to clockwork 28 and .on the other side to a releasing device. The latter consists of an escapement-wheel 29 provided with four teeth, which wheel is controlled by the armature 30 ofan electromagnet 31, which is adjustably suspended on the cover of the box. Near the escapement wheel, there is arranged on the extended shaft or spindle a switchdisk 32, the side surface of which consists of insulating material and isintersected by a copper strip 33. On the cover 34 of the box 26 are provided two contact-pins 35 and 36, which are arranged exactly at a right angle relatively to each other. The middle of the strip 33 is directly connected toa bracketcontact 37, which is connected to the electromagnet (Fig. 5). From the electromagnet a wire is led to .a terminal 39 arranged on the cover.

The diagram of connections of a complete plant for 'a number of wells is shown in Fig. 7. The switch-board 39 contains a double interrupter 40, an indicator-board 23, a plugswitch 42, and a pressure-gage 43. The interrupter consists of a copper bar 44, on which, for example, three spring levers 45 are provided corresponding to the number of the wells. This bar is connected to the terminal 41. The contact-plates 46 below are each connected to a terminal 47, while moreover contact levers 48 are provided which can be connected to the contactplates 46. The levers 48 are connected to the indicator-board 41, the numbers of which correspond to the lowermost switch-board terminals 49. The battery 25 is similarly earthed, a part thereof is connected by a line wire 51 to the terminals 49, while the outermost carbon electrode is connected to the terminal 41. A telephone apparatus 50 is connected on the one hand to the earth plateof the battery 25 and on the other hand to the plug-switch 42 which latter is likewise connected to the wire 51. in the well C is arranged the controlling device 8. The wire 19 is connected to the terminal 35 and the wire 20 is connected to the terminal 36 and B similar wires 53 and 54 are provided which are each connected to a terminal 47. In order to enable the official at the well to communicate with the engine attendant, the

movable microphone 55 can be earthed on one side and connected on the other side to one of the line wires 52.

The operation of the improved controlling device is as follows: So long as the level of the liquid takes u the position III (Fig. 1), the float 21 wi remain in its lowermost position and no contact will be made. If by reason of insufficient supervision, the pressure of the compressed air falls or entirely ceases, the level of liquid, which has sunk during working, will rise. The petroleum willrise up to the position 6 (Fig. 1) and come into contact with the float 21; if the rise continues, the float will be raised and the contact-lever 16 will come into contact with the contact-spring 15 whereby the.

circuit between the wires 19 and 20 will be completed (Fig. 2). By this connection of the contacts 15 and 16, the current will flow through the wire 20 to the indicator-board 23, through the bell 24 to the battery 25 and thence to earth and through the wire 20 back to the controlling device (Fig. 4). It will be seen that the bell will warn the engineroom attendant and the indicator board will indicate to him at 'the same time the particular well which requires compressed air. If the whole plant works without an The terminal 38 is con-' air shut-off device, as shown in Fig. 4, the 1M of. liquid is again depressed and; by the sinking of the float, the controlling device is automatically switched out.

If shut-oh devices are provided for the air, the whole plant is more complicated, but the engine-attendan=t isin a position to regulate exactly the amount of air supplied without leaving his place. Thisair' shut' oii' device works in the following manner:

tureawl 30 however locks the escapementwhee. .If the armature is attracted, the escapement-wheel and therefore also the valve can turnuntil, by denerg'izing the electromagnet, the armature again locks the cscapement-wheel. If the air shut-off valve is open, it will be closed on the moving forward ofthe escapement-wheelthrough a tooth, in which operation the contact-strip 33 1s correspondingly turned through a right angle and now, the pin 36, instead of the pin 35comes into contact with the contact-strip33. During this movement, the valve has been closed. The electromagnet 1s so made that its armature is only lifted by a predetermined current. The operation of the complete plant is as followsz If-the level of liquid has risen in the well C, the circuit in the controlling device 8 is closed between the wires 19. and 20 (Fig. 7). from the'battery through the wire 51. to the terminal 49, from here to the indicator-board 23, where it causes ,thenumbcr corresponding tothe well C. to be shown, now flows through the lever 48 (which is in the dotted position), the contact-plate 46, terminal 47, line wire 52, terminal 38, 45 through the electromagnet 31' to the terminal 37, copper strip 33, terminal 35, line wires 19 an 20 t0 the earth-plate and through the earth backto the negative'pole of the battery. Thiscurrent is too-weak to actuate the electromagnet 31 and only causes the number Cco'rresponding t0 the well to be indicated. The engine-attendant is by this means given a visual si nal that 'the' well C needs air viously an a arm-bell 55 can also be connected-1nhe circuit. The

ofiicial now puts the lever. 48 into the posi-v tion shown. in full lines in Fig. 7. "If the pressure-gage shows sufficient pressure, the attendant presses tor 'anlinstant the spring lever '45againstthe contact-plate 46, whereupon. a second circuit is closed. B means 0 this connection,- a current flows rom the" battery 25 to theterminal 41, through the copper -strip .44, the spring lever 45, the con- 65. tact" plate 46, terminal 47 wire 52, terminal The clockwork 28 tends toset thespindleof the valve-27 in rotary motion; the armas By this means, the current fiows 38; through the electromagn'et 31, contacts 37, 35, controlling device8 and through the earth back to the battery. Consequently current from the whole ofthc battery passes through the electromagnet, whereupon the armature is attracted and the clockwork is released.- Since the ofii'cial only closes the circuit for an instant, the armature immediately falls back again, but the spindle moves until the next tootlrof the escapement-wheel is engaged by the detenton the armature. The escapcmentwheel has therefore turned through 90"., and the shut-off val-vehas been opened. When the official has supplied the prescribedamount of air, he again presses-the lever 45, whereuponthe whole battery current isagain sent through the electromagnet. Since the-copper strip 33 has consequently been also turned" through 90, the current flows from 38, through 37, 36 and-earth back to the battery. By this means, the air shut-off valve isagain closed and a fresh cycle of operations can be commenced, for which purpose the ofiicial finally returns the lever 48 to its original )osition. 9

.Communication between the oflicia at the well and the engine-attendant takes place in the following manner:If in the first place a connection is made between the microphone 55 and one of theline wires 52, 53 O1 54, the corresponding number appears on the indicator-board. The engineattendant now switches in the telephone apparatus 50 by means of the. plug-switch 42, whereupon communication takes place through 50, 42, 7 49, 48, 46, 47, 52, 55 and earth. Since actu- -ation of the indicator-boardcan thus take place by means ofthe controlling device or of the microphone, the en ineeattendant is in a position to switch'in tie telephone a paratus when the inspector makes his dai y round to wind up the clockwork.

The whole supervisory apparatus is characterized by simplicity and capacity of bein easily inspected, since it can at any time at'a central station whether any and. which wells require air and whether a sufficient amount of air is available. Moreover the ield of the wells can be much increased, since now efiicientworking can take place even-during the night. by the air-controlling device.

What I claim is I v 1. controlling device for petroleum wells com rising a movably mountedcontact, a

fixe contact coacting' with said movable contact an air supply pipe, an air valve, means tor actuating said air valve, a detent I for controlling the movement of said valve actuating means, an electromagnet for actuating said detent, a two-way rotary electric switch connected tosaid air valve, two electric switches, an electric signaling device, two sources of electricity arranged in series with each other, an electric circuit including 13'0 9 determined 110 one of said sources of electricity, said fixed and movable contacts, said rotary switch, said electro-magnet, a branch circuit extending between said rotary switch and said sources of electricity and arranged as an alternative circuit to that through said fixed and movable contacts, and two branch electric circuits one of which comprises one of said electric switches and an additional source of electricity, and the other of which comprises the electric the other of said electric switches, substantially as described.

2. A controlling apparatus for petroleumwells of the kind wherein the petroleum is raised by compressed air, said apparatus comprising a casing supported in said well, a contact movably mounted in said casing, a float connected to said movable contact, a fixed contact coacting with said movable contact, an air-valve, clockwork for actuating said air-valve, a detent for controlling the movement of said clockwork, an electromagnet actuating said detent, a two-way rotary signaling device and two electric switches, an electric signaling 3 device, two sources of electricity arranged in K series with each other, an electric circuit including one of said sources of electricity, said fixed and movable contacts, said rotary switch, said electromagnet, a branch circuit I extending between said rotary switch and said source of electricity and arranged as an 1 alternative circuit to that throu h said fixed and movable contacts and two 1' tric circuits one of which comprises one of i said electric switches and an additional source of electricity, and the other com rises l the electric signaling device and the other of i said electric switches, substantially as described. i In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses. l KAREL EDUARD EHRMANN. i Witnesses: l LoUrs MEERBURG, l THOMAS ALBERTUS KLAASEN.

[ electric switch connected to said air-valve, :1

ranch elec- 3: 

